DAILY PRESS BRIEFING OF OFFICE OF SPOKESMAN FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL
Press Briefing
DAILY PRESS BRIEFING OF OFFICE OF SPOKESMAN FOR SECRETARY-GENERAL
19960830
FOR INFORMATION OF UNITED NATIONS SECRETARIAT ONLY
Sylvana Foa, Spokesman for Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali, began today's noon briefing by saying that it was another busy day for the Security Council. In the morning, the Council had been briefed by the Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Lansana Kouyate. Originally scheduled for yesterday, the briefing was on violations of international humanitarian law in the areas of Srebrenica, Zepa, Banja Luka and Sanski Most. The Spokesman reiterated her observation from yesterday: "This is a polite way of talking about the progress, or lack thereof, on the exhumation of grave sites in those areas."
She said that Mr. Kouyate had told the Council that it had become clear that the parties, and in particular the Republika of Srpska and Bosnian Croat authorities, were intent on limiting their cooperation and viewing the matter of exhumations as essentially one of body exchanges. At the present time, therefore, exhumations by one party on territory controlled by another were in abeyance due to the non-cooperation of the parties. With winter approaching, the issue needed to be urgently addressed. Mr. Kouyate detailed some exhumations which had taken place. The number certainly did not exceed 300, even counting bodies found above ground.
The Council had also held consultations on demining in the context of United Nations peace-keeping operations, as well as on the draft resolution on Burundi (document S/1996/708), the Spokesman said. The Council was now in a formal session on the subject of demining. A Presidential Statement was expected. Next, the Council would take up the draft resolution which would extend the mandate of the United Nations Observer Mission in Liberia (UNOMIL), scheduled to expire tomorrow. Under that draft, the mandate would be extended for another three months and an additional 24 United Nations military observers would be deployed.
The Council would then hold a formal session on Burundi. France, Chile, Italy (on behalf of the European Union) and Burundi were scheduled to speak. By the draft resolution, the Council would condemn the overthrow of the legitimate Government and constitutional order in Burundi, and all those parties and factions which resort to force and violence to advance their political objectives. The Council would express strong support for regional efforts and call upon the regime to ensure a return to constitutional order.
Also by the draft, the Council would demand that all of Burundi's political parties and factions, without exception, initiate unconditional negotiations immediately, with a view to reaching a comprehensive political settlement. The Council would decide to re-examine the matter on 31 October
and would request that the Secretary-General report to it by that time on the situation. In the event that the Secretary-General reported that the negotiations had not been initiated, the Council would consider the imposition of measures under the Charter to further compliance with its demands. Those measures might include a ban on the sale or supply of arms. The draft resolution also would reiterate the importance the Council attaches to the contingency planning it had called for in resolution 1049 (1996) of 5 March. The Council would encourage the Secretary-General and Member States to continue to facilitate contingency planning.
Yesterday after the noon briefing there had been further developments in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ms. Foa said. Yesterday she had said that 46 Republika of Srpska policemen had been detained by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Implementation Force (IFOR) after an incident in the village of Mahala. Now a mob of about 500 people had engaged in a quite ugly attack against United Nations personnel in Zvornik. Two United Nations police monitors, both Russians, had been assaulted by the local police outside their police station and forced inside. A United Nations civil affairs officer had been punched and kicked as he attempted to leave the station. Another civil affairs officer had been pulled out of his car and taken to a Bosnian Serb police station. A small explosive device had been put in his car which detonated, destroying it completely. Three other vehicles were badly damaged and one had been lightly damaged. International Police Task Force (IPTF) Commissioner Peter Fitzgerald had strongly protested to the Interior Ministry of the Republika of Srpska about the incident. The IPTF was demanding swift punishment of those who were behind the mob attack.
Yesterday the United Nations Transitional Administration for Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Sirmium (UNTAES) had coordinated the first meeting between the Croatian Government and the Executive Council of Eastern Slavonia, the Spokesman said. The entire Executive Council, along with the mayors of five Eastern Slavonia municipalities, had taken part. The issues discussed included amnesty, return of refugees and displaced persons, and elections. The Croatian Government had promised to develop a more comprehensive amnesty law. Education, social policy, employment and economic reconstruction had also been discussed. The parties had agreed to continue with direct contacts and meet again within a week. The Serb side had proposed Vukovar as the site of the next meeting.
The latest round of negotiations between the Guatemalan Government and the Unidad RevolucionarÃa Nacional Guatemalteca (UNRG), moderated by the United Nations, had ended last night in Mexico City, Ms. Foa said. The next round would be held in the Mexican capital from 6 to 8 September.
Daily Press Briefing - 3 - 30 August 1996
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) had had a very pleasant surprise visit from the Permanent Representative of Italy, Francesco Paolo Fulci, she continued. He had dropped by to announce that Italy was increasing its 1996 contribution to UNDP from 23 billion lire to 33 billion lire (approximately $21.7 million), 10 per cent more than 1995. "So, all we can say to Italy is, Gratzie millarde!"
At 1:15 p.m. in the United Nations Correspondents Association (UNCA) Club, German Ambassador Antonius Eitel would speak to the press about his Security Council Presidency, Ms. Foa announced. At 3:30 p.m., the Permanent Representative of Burundi, Nzanze Terrence, would hold a press briefing in room 226. The subject would be the position of the Burundi Government regarding today's Security Council draft resolution.
Finally, UNCA President Ian Williams had asked the Spokesman to give a final reminder that the end of August was the deadline for correspondents to submit their applications for the UNCA award. The annual award, which would be given for the best article, programme or series about the United Nations prepared from July 1995 to July 1996, would come with a $1,000 check. Entries had already come in from 20 countries.
A correspondent brought up the subject of the shooting down by the Cuban air force of two civilian aircraft in February. He asked if there had been any news since the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) had released its report in July. The Spokesman said that since then there had been a Security Council meeting. The Council had passed resolution 1067 (1966) on the subject on 26 July.
In closing, Ms. Foa reminded the correspondents that Monday was a holiday. The Spokesman's Office would be staffed, and correspondents might want to call in just in case. The Office had the lid list, however, and would call the correspondents if anything happened to crop up. "Have a good weekend."
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